Mar. 20, 2014
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by Melanie Eversley, USA TODAY

by Melanie Eversley, USA TODAY

On Wednesday, staffers for Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., the last surviving organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, had a belated birthday celebration for him in his Atlanta office when they put on Pharrell Williams' Happy.

When the congressman slipped out of his usual stoic expression and began snapping his fingers and twisting his hips, the staffers decided to film it and post it to YouTube. The video has gone viral and was a trending topic on social media Thursday night. Staffer Rachelle O'Neil is heard in the background, encouraging the congressman's moves.

One staffer said Lewis can't get enough of the song, which was nominated for an Academy Award. Its 24-hour music video available online features hundreds of people dancing through the streets of Los Angeles in individual three-minute segments. It's spurred spinoff videos from students from Morgan State University and Syracuse University, young singers from the Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences and, now, a member of Congress.

"The congressman, ever since Pharrell came out with the song, he's wanted to know, 'Who sings that song? Who sings that song?" said Michael Collins, Lewis' chief of staff. "He gets into it. The congressman has this incredible spirit. Whenever he hears the song, he's like, 'Turn it up. Turn it up.' Whenever he hears it, he just lights up."

Lewis has never met Williams, Collins said. "He would love to meet him one day," Collins said.